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Did you know that "ghosts," as far as seances, hauntings, etc., gained popularity in the 1800s when the Spiritualist movement gained traction? Mostly, Spiritualism sprang forth from the grief during and after the Civil War - family members never knew what happened to their loved ones who went off to war and were never heard from again. Spiritualists ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0syNl1HtQE&... ) believe the idea that people-mere mortals-could contact the dead directly-an idea that developed before and after the time the Fox Sisters http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_sistershttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtMlH9CXOgA two young sisters who lived in their family cabin who began having direct contact with the spirit of a murdered peddler buried in their basement. People came from miles around to hear the girls conduct "rapping" sessions with him via knockings on every wall of their cabin. Soon the girls were on the speaking circuit and the United States became drawn into the pastime of talking with the dead.

Ghosts Happen is big on evidence in this group-and the proof is in the pudding when you have state of the art technology. We use our technology to document contact from beyond. As world issues become more critical, I do believe the veil between the living and the dead is becoming thinner. I believe consciousness exists after death, and I'm a big fan of String Theory. Physics is a huge part of the answer to paranormal events-incidents that occur when the dead are able to touch our world.

We DO NOT use provoking techniques — and if you do, you shouldn't join this group.

Let's face it-ghosts do exist, and you're going to be one of them sooner, or later.... Ghosts Happen! This group educates the curious. You will learn

•How to use mediumship and scientific tools

•Meet us at designated areas where we will show you techniques to use mediumship and state-of-the-art tools and the theories behind them

•Learn the history of ghost hunting

•You will learn how to investigate a property to conduct your own pre-investigation before the paranormal investigation

•If you are interested, you will learn how to develop your mediumship and intuition skills.If you've ever wondered if THEY exist-yes, Ghosts Happen. Please, if you're serious about this subject, join us. If you're an asshole, we'll find out, more sooner than later - we have zero tolerance. Seriously, life is too short.

We invite skeptics, but you must have respect for the subject matter, investigation techniques, and the people who conduct this kind of research. Under 18? Sorry, you must be 18 to attend this group unless accompanied by your legal guardian who will need to sign the release (at the event).

READ

•Post a photo of you (alone) no two-people pictures. You can also use an image that represents you. Always have a photo (please no photos of you as a child, because then I'll need to clarify that it isn't actually a picture of your child, and who has that kind of time?). Please don't use an inappropriate pic of you looking like an exotic services ad on craigslist. We get prostitutes (seriously) trying to join as many groups as possible to get "exposure" to expand their business. So, no upshooting, downshooting - and please have clothes (I am so tired of looking at your naked asses).

•Only one person per membership. No guests at meetings unless it is an open event (and there aren't many).

•Do not have your spouse, or date join so you can have someone to make out with (seriously this has happened). We get tired of wondering if the sucking sounds are those of a spirit or someone making out in the bushes. No making out. Please refrain for a few hours, okay? This is a serious investigation group, NOT a place/time to get hot and bothered. Get a room.

•PLEASE do not join because your lover/friend/both has an interest. Join because YOU want to learn more. Applications stating, "I'm joining because my girlfriend is," etc. will be declined. Mostly because I anticipate you'll be making out during investigations.

•Answer all the questions in your application without being snarky.

•PLEASE do not ask to be an exception/rules are rules

•You must figure out the Meetup system on your own (please do not ask me to be a technical guide for meetup user interface).

•You can't join under a company name-you must be a human. No pics of company/org logos. I'm not your freakin' billboard.

•All paid events are paid in advance.

• 24-hour or less changes in RSVP (from yes to no) gets a no-show, depending on the event, my mood and your excuse, you could be nixed the first time. Anyone who just blows us off (doesn't show up at all and doesn't contact me) will be dropped. Do not ask to be accepted in again, you won't be.

•Please read all of this so you won't have to send me emails.Please view our past calender events to see what we do. Do not email me and ask what to expect, I'm not going to spend 20 minutes compiling an email. Please, never ask me to call you so we can "talk." If I feel you're high maintenance BEFORE you're a member, you won't get in.

•You need to show up to events NOT under the influence for alcohol or drugs (prescribed, or otherwise), we do a lot of outdoor investigations for safety. If you're not able to make good decisions, you not only endanger yourself, you also put us at risks - as there are all kinds of things that have happened before, running into absolutely nutcase people, wildlife such as rattlesnakes, police questioning.... So, needless to say, we don't need you high. One of the digs we sometimes bring with us is a former DEA dog, he can tell if you're high even if you've been fooling your boss for a decade.

• DO NOT wear perfume or cologne, or any other strong-smelling stuff. Even the not strong smelling stuff is not okay.

•DO NOT wear swishy clothes/jackets.

•DO NOT wear noisy jewelry/blinky shoes/diodes

•DO NOT come if you are sick - we do not need to work around your coughs, sniffles, sneezes and throat clearing when reviewing EVP's, and we certainly don't want to get sick. However, using this excuse less than 24 hours in advance? Really? People know when they're going to be sick the next day.

•YOU MUST have your own way there and back. You can't just dump yourself on us afterward. If you need a ride, make sure you post it on the bulletin board. But, remember, we do not vouch for people in the group, we may not know someone who is giving you a ride from Adam, so be aware. There are serial killers and rapists among us everywhere we go.

•You must have an investigation tool (dowsing rods, recorder, pendulum, ITC (although we won't have as many of those sessions as we do EVP sessions), and other ghost hunting equipment, camera (we don't believe in catching orbs (it's mostly dust and condensation), so leave your flash at home and use high ISO or IR. Bring a flashlight.

•You're cell phone must be off (and not on silent), the cell towers send signal to check in with your phone and it causes disruption with our equipment. If your friends and family can't get along a few hours without you, you should be with them - not us.

•YOU MUST read the entire event description, you'll look like a real ass if you don't.

•Investigations are NOT a time to chat. We're serious about our investigations.

•You MUST be on time, look it up the location BEFORE you leave, getting lost with Siri, Google maps, and GPS's is not an excuse. I always tell people to use Google maps on street level so you can actually SEE where you're going before you get there. You being late holds up the entire event while we wait. We don't have much tolerance for this kind of behavior.

•We're not big on demons or exorcizing them - if that's what you're looking for, there are a few of those meetups locally.

•Please, if you're looking for the drama you've seen on TV, it's not here, again keep looking and you'll find the right one for you.

•THIS is a training group, we do not go on investigations into people's homes or places of work — because this group is open to everyone, we really can't vouch for everyone in these kinds of private locations. If you're looking for that...again, keep looking, you'll find it.

•You cannot use mediumship strictly as a tool in this group, we collect evidence, so that means you need to have a tool that collects data to record your evidence, otherwise we're just telling ghost stories, right?

•I know I must sound like a total bitch, but these rules are here because I've come upon the same issues time and time again.This is a free group, set up by me-as a resource to others. Be nice, be polite-and treat me and other members of this group as you would wish to be treated-and we'll all get along just fine. If you don't get accepted within a few days, check this list (before sending an email to me-I won't answer questions obviously covered here). If you've followed all of the above, send a message, sometimes meetup glitches and I don't get meetup emails.

About Me: My name is Sally Richards. I've researched the subject of contacting the dead-including the physicists who began working hand-in-hand with the mediums of the 1800s.There are several 100+year-old Spiritualist communities that exist today including:Lily Dale, NY, Harmony Grove, CA, Maine, Mass, Indiana, Cassadaga in Florida and Edgewood in Washington and many more.Training in classic mediumship techniques can help you become more intuitive-perhaps only a matter of being able to "sense" something enough to aim a camera and take a picture. I am the author of Ghosthunting Southern California (Clerisy, 2012). I believe in intelligent "life" after death. I have a group, Roadside Paranormal, if we like you and you're experienced enough well bring you into our private investigation group.